CPR Aquafuge

[reefNewbie]

Just got mine in today from the inland reef powerbuy. Great product! I have a question however. I have a 36in florescent light strip from my old tank. The aquafuge is about 24in. I wanted to use this light for it. However, the light ends up showing into the main tank when placed on top of the aquafuge. I was wondering if it would be ok to place the light against the backside of the aquafuge? This way it wouldnt shine down into the main tank. would this be just as effective for plant growth?

 

[AmekaAquatics.Com]

You are going to loose some of your wattage, because of the acrylic, but not too much. You didn't specificy which wattage bulb this unit has, so it is impossible to really comment anything solid.

The bigger concern would be the fact that there won't be any 'direct light'.

I think it really matters what wattage your going to be using, what you plan to have in the refuge, and the like.

It would, of course, be better to have it ontop, but I don't really see any problem with it being on the back side.

Just be careful of the heat put off by the bulbs. You don't want the bulbs so close to the side that it causes the acrylic to worp/bend. That would be very bad

 

[reefNewbie]

its a 37w 50/50 bulb. it never gets that hot

 

[Expos Forever]

I read somewhere about someone doing longterm tests with a 24 hour photoperiod. I can't seem to find it at the moment... Apparently the fish still sleep and corals still grow. I'm not recommending this but I wouldn't worry too much about some indirect lighting. Like moonlight I guess.

 

[reefNewbie]

I thought that when the lights went out, it should stay pitch black for the fish to sleep.

 

[AmekaAquatics.Com]

I thought that when the lights went out, it should stay pitch black for the fish to sleep.

Why not just put a black background around the part of your tank where the CPR product is? (if you don't already)

That s/would cause most of the light to not entire into the tank.

 

[reefNewbie]

well i do have a blue background, but it somewhat shines though. Mainly it shines over the top of the main tank since the aquafuge sits a few inches above main tank.

 

[LA-Lawman]

tony...

just pain the outside black.... get a latex paint..... i used to paint all of my acrylic tanks.....

just an idea

 

[attempt]

i have the 19 inch aquafuge, i leave the light on 24/7 i have a black background also. the aquafuge does send some light into the tank at night from over the top of the edge and it also kind of "prisms" though the hangon adjustments, it took a few days for the corals to get used to it they finally started closing after that when the main light goes off. I questioned the LFS about this and they said that it is fine, it will not harm anything in my tank
its been like that for months and no problems and no sign of anything fish or corals being stressed at all